Sometimes it is healthy to pause and consider some of the
many moving parts and the hands that maintain those parts in order to sustain our
lives from day to day. Think for a
moment how many parts, processes, interactions, and hands are at work near and
far, seen and unseen, to help us perform even the most mundane of tasks—transportation,
groceries, paying bills, fueling our cars, phoning, texting, sending and
receiving packages, health care, and automobile maintenance and repair. All of these are interconnected in a unity or
union which is hard for us to comprehend, easy for us to take for granted; and more
recently, the target of much criticism and efforts to reform.
Moving Parts and Skilled
People
It was time for an oil change in our Toyota.
While sitting in the waiting area, we noticed stacks of auto parts newly
delivered by drivers from local parts stores.
As we waited, one driver after another came and went, each bringing a
part necessary for the mechanics to skillfully service the vehicles entrusted
to their care. Then, as each mechanic
received the next work order on their iPad, they grabbed the appropriate auto part(s)
from the stack and disappeared into the servicing area.
As time passed, we realized that entrusting our car to a mechanic is an exercise
of faith. Our safety, and the safety of tens
of millions of drivers on our nation’s highways, depends on thousands of dedicated mechanics who identify worn
parts and replace them with precise torqueing of screws and bolts and precision electronic
adjustment. And all of this they do
without audience and fanfare each workday.
Without them, our lives would drastically change and our economy would
grind to a halt.
We can only imagine the story behind each of the hundreds of auto parts that compose
the engine, chassis, and body of every vehicle.
Each part is manufactured from raw materials by injection, molding, and
stamping machines, often controlled by a computer program. Then, each finished part is packed and shipped
to a distribution center in readiness for orders from auto parts stores or auto
assembly plants. The machines responsible
for producing auto parts are themselves composed of many mechanical parts that
must each fit together and function under microscale tolerances.
Besides the complex mechanical side of manufacture and distribution of machine
parts there is also the human side.
Although the former is highly mechanical and automated, the human element
is the most crucial in producing the final outcome. Just as we depend upon the integrity and work
ethic of mechanics for our personal safety and the function of our nation, so we
must also depend upon the men and women who transport them on trucks, barges, trains, ships, and airplanes. When we consider the vast number of
people and mechanical processes that are necessary for the smooth operation of
the so-called “supply chain,” we ought to be humbled with awe and thankfulness. Of course, we also ought to pray for our
leaders in government whose policies will either support this vast system or
preside over its demise.
Our thoughts about auto parts and the supply chain were interrupted when a
mechanic appeared to inform us that our oil filter
cover was worn out and needed replacement. Amazingly, within 20 minutes, a delivery
driver appeared with packaged oil filter cover in hand. Service on our Toyota was completed, and in
another 20 minutes, we were on the road, with hundreds of other cars and trucks
that depend on a regular supply of energy, auto parts, engine fluids, and
proper maintenance to stay on the road.
The “Invisible Hand”
Back home, we placed our auto service receipt in our “maintenance folder” and
the credit card receipt in its place. As
we considered all the “moving parts” both mechanical and human, that are
necessary to maintain just one automobile, we realized an even more amazing dimension.
It is what Adam Smith, author of Wealth
of Nations, referred to as “the invisible hand” of the market system. Adam Smith believed in an “invisible hand” of
God’s providence over human affairs which enabled the market system to
accomplish “an orderly and efficient distribution of goods and services….” This “distribution,” Smith believed, was
manifested through “…the generally self-interested acts of people producing,
buying, and selling in a market without fixed prices, even though no one
intends such an order.”
Jay Richards, whose words we have just quoted, has written the book, Money,
Greed, and God: Why Capitalism Is the Solution and Not the Problem
(HarperOne, New York: 2009).
In it, Richards refers to an amusing essay, entitled “I, Pencil,” by
Leonard E. Read (Click HERE
to read). The essay personifies a common
wooden pencil explaining how it came into being. Richards summarizes “I, Pencil” as follows:
Jay Richards points out three "marvels" of a free-market system that
produces the simple yellow pencil.
First, few among all the people who contributed to the pencil actually
knew that their particular raw material would go to making a part of the
pencil.
Second, in the words of "I, Pencil, "not a single person on the face
of this Earth knows how to make me."
The knowledge of all the steps and materials necessary to make a pencil “is
dispersed among millions of different people.”
And third, instead of one or a few masterminds overseeing the process, it is
"all coordinated by people working freely in specialized jobs following
the price of countless goods and services."
The same is true of every product on the
market, whether it is food, home appliances, automobiles, electronic devices;
you name it.
Amazingly, there are "millions
of people working in seeming unrelated jobs, speaking dozens of languages, all
blissfully unaware that they are, in a small way, making…" familiar
products possible.
Most people know that a truly “free market” is an ideal that does not exist. In fact, the current market which we are
discussing is becoming less and less free as federal and state governments
impose regulations, price fixing, corporate taxes, and tariffs that affect availability
and prices of energy, food, health care, education, etc. So, when we say, “free market,” we mean “partially
free market.”
What makes a free-market system work? Consider
the following “drivers of an economy:” individual initiative, work ethic, love
for one's job, desire to improve one's place in society, professional
advancement, a sense of purpose and hope in the future, trust in the justice
system, law and order, fair trade, and confidence of fair payment for work well
done. All of these and more influence the health and
function of a free-market economy. No
doubt you can think of other factors that may contribute to the workings of Adam
Smith’s "the invisible hand." But
there may be something behind all of these “drivers.”
We believe that the foundation of all economic “drivers” is a specific gift of
God’s providence—a gift we call “faith?” In other words, when we "dissect" the "invisible hand," we find God's providence operating through faith to varying degrees in the hearts of people. The Bible describes faith as "an assurance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11: 1)?" Perhaps it is this “faith,” whether in God or
in “the system” (think Wall Street, Federal Reserve, etc.), that propels
each of the millions of people to work even though each is only a tiny cog within
a gigantic economy. And why is the word, “economy”
a fitting choice of terms?
“Economy” is derived from the Greek word, οἰκονομία, translated “oikonomia”
(oy-kon-om-ee'-ah), meaning stewardship.
A steward is a person entrusted by his or her master or owner of
property to manage it as a “caretaker” of the property. A “good steward” performs his or her responsibilities
with the motivation to honor the best interests of the master-owner. The concept of stewardship originates in the first
and second chapters of the Old Testament of the Bible (Genesis 1: 26-31; 2:
15).
When it comes to servicing our vehicles, a mechanic who does his or her work
well is a good steward. The steward-mechanic
doesn’t own the auto service but realizes that being a good steward while “servicing”
vehicles pleases his or her employer, makes for a good hourly wage, and ensures
job security and long-term success for the owner of the auto service. It is because of this “stewardship mentality”
that millions of cars, each with thousands of working parts humming together
under their hoods, can move on our streets and highways without frequent mechanical
failures. The same principle applies to
employees at stores, restaurants, schools, clinics, hospitals, etc. But there are laws that work against the functioning
unity within both our economy and our personal lives. What are these laws?
Market
in a “Groaning World”
In the material realm, the Second Law of Thermodynamics describes the tendency
of both machines and the human body to “wear out.” Our cars need new parts and sometimes a total
mechanical overhaul. Eventually, they will
be hauled to the scrap pile along with many of our smaller machines and appliances.
Our bodies also eventually “wear out.”
Within our bodies and souls is the operation of the “law of sin and
death” (Romans 8: 2) which came as a consequence of mankind’s rebellion (sin) against
God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Romans
8: 20-21 tells us that …the creation was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of Him (God) who subjected it, in hope that the
creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the
freedom of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8: 22-23 speaks of the groaning of every
person and the whole creation under the curse of sin and death. This principle is made evident to us through
the Scriptures and from our own personal experiences.
All cars and other machines need the attention of mechanics. But mechanics sometimes make mistakes and some are
negligent. None of us are perfect on our
best days; nor are we perfect as stewards. Therefore, a “bad mechanic” doesn’t justify protests
against all auto mechanics. Nor does the
relatively few instances of police injustice out of thousands of successful interdictions
at crime scenes justify defunding the police.
Likewise, there are thousands of honest, dedicated teachers, pastors,
doctors, business owners, and lawyers; but always there are unintended mistakes
and some “bad apples” in each profession.
In a groaning world where so many things can upset us, we are prone to
criticize and protest. Yet even in
lawful protests there are “bad actors” who use unfortunate incidents to further
their political aims or destroy and loot property. Bad actors even exist among our governing
leaders. Some intentionally or unintentionally influence policy without understanding the tremendous complexity of the amazing market system; nor do they understand or respect the "invisible hand" of Providence. Corruption in government can go unpunished because of a double standard, causing the diminishing of trust and a disrespect for leaders and law enforcers. What should the seemingly forgotten and
discouraged citizen do?
Stewards of a “More
Perfect Union”
Although we may be tempted to groan, complain, and protest, people who profess
faith in God must use restraint based on stewardship of the manifold grace that
God provides. The Bible reveals two
important points to help us understand God’s grace and how to apply it in our
world.
The Apostle Peter, writing to first-century Christians living in the midst of
much suffering by persecution, warned that “the end of all things is near” and
that they should be alert, prayerful, fervent in love, and hospitable without
complaint (1 Peter 4: 7-9). No one can
predict the date of Christ’s return, but we are nearer every day. Peter summarizes his urgent challenge with
these words in verse 10 (emphasis added):
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one
another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
The Prophet Jeremiah wrote, Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
because His compassions fail not (Lamentations 3: 22). For those who have professed faith in Jesus
Christ, it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God… (Ephesians 2: 8-9). By grace through faith, the Life of Christ is
born within anyone who sincerely claims God’s gift of salvation. Then, His Spirit will abide in us and empower
us to love and obey God, and to love our neighbor. It is this tradition of the Christian faith
that empowered the Framers to write the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution something
like this:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a perfect Union…”
But notice there is one word missing?
The correctly stated Preamble clearly reveals the humility and wisdom of
its Framers. Their stated purpose was
“to form a more perfect Union.”
They knew from history that no government prior to the 18th century was
“perfect.” And their Judeo-Christian faith
tradition gave them the reason why.
The Fall of mankind in the Garden had placed creation and all mankind under the
curse of sin, producing imperfect men and women; and, imperfect leaders and
followers. Hence, we find imperfect
mechanics, teachers, doctors, pastors, etc.
Yet, the Founders, like many others enlightened by Scripture, believed
in a Creator who alone is the source of “certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Therefore, the Framers aimed to form a
government later described by Lincoln as being “of the people, by the people,
and for the people;” namely, a government designed not to guarantee equal
outcomes (equity), but one that is limited and nimble enough to assure each
person the freedoms to “pursue happiness.”
Through much shedding of blood and tears, through much prayer and reliance on
the hand of Divine Providence, and through amendments to our Constitution, “the
government by the people” has made significant progress toward “a more perfect
union.” Dr.
Martin Luther King famously emphasized that we ought to judge our fellow
man not by their outward appearance (ethnicity, gender, sexual preference, political
party, etc.) but “by the content of their character.”
Eroding the “More Perfect
Union”
Unfortunately, the past century in America has witnessed an erosion of the
Judeo-Christian faith foundation that was responsible for the founding and
preservation of America during its first century. Biblical moral absolutes are being replaced
by moral relativism based on subjective human reason and experience.
Romans 1: 21-23 explains what happens when we “no longer honor God or give
thanks” to Him. Professing wisdom, we
become fools with darkened hearts; and we can easily exchange our identity in
God’s image for the image of animals and animal-like behavior. Today, we are seeing the tragic result of
exchanging the biblical revelation of our moral and biological identity for the
deception of Satan the great Deceiver. He
is a liar and a murderer from the beginning (John 8: 44) and he aims to destroy
the image of God through deception. Many
are falling for satanic deception which affects our individual identity, our
marriages and families, and our churches.
Giving in to Satan’s deception has caused many people to become confused as
they pursue their purpose in life, their personal values and identity, and even their gender. Likewise, the nuclear
family is increasingly under attack.
According to a Pew Research Center study, 23% of children in America
under age 18 live in single-parent homes.
Witness the trend of church leaders, churches, and Christian educational
institutions compromising their stand for biblical truth. Yet, according to the Bible, God’s only plan
for the redemption of mankind is through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, and
the witnessing and discipleship by Christ-following believers in Christ’s
Name. Jesus said, “If I be lifted up
from the earth (crucified), I will draw all men unto me (John 12:32)."
Greatest
Unity—Last Best Hope
What is “the last best hope of Earth?” Lincoln believed it was America’s experiment
in self-government. According to the
Bible, God’s answer seems to be the church.
He placed His “best hope” for His creation and for mankind in the hands
and hearts of Christ’s raggedy band of followers who remained behind when the
risen Christ ascended to Heaven.
Following Pentecost and their receiving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), the
powerful unity of witness and purpose of these few followers literally “turned
the world upside down” spiritually. How
was this possible?
In this article, we have marveled at how innumerable moving parts and millions
of people can produce and operate millions of machines, each with billions of
moving parts within them, all in some kind of unity that allows our culture to
function. However, more precious and
awesome than the humming of a well-oiled machine or our complex market economy
is the supernatural unity of mind, body, and spirit within one human being. Or the unconditional love that binds a man
and a woman together in marriage, or the unity of Christians serving together
in a local church. Of course, the unity
of the local church depends upon the Spirit-filled lives of individual Christ-followers
and the love spilled into the world from a Christian marriage.
According to Francis Schaeffer, the unity among Christians within our churches
is the greatest testimony and apologetic for the authenticity of the Christian
faith (Curtis Heffelfinger, The Peace Making Church, Baker Books (2018),
p. 107). Schaeffer bases his claim on Jesus’s
prayer with the disciples recorded in John 17 in which He prays for His
disciples and those who would believe because of their witness of love and
unity. In verse 21, Jesus prays
(emphasis added), That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and
I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that
thou hast sent me.
We are surrounded by the wonders of God’s creation from far distant stars to
the subatomic particles in matter; and we are impressed by the workings of
engines and economies, and even the human body.
But these are not the most powerful evidence that “God sent His Son the
be the Savior of the world.” The most
convincing evidence is display of Christ’s love and unity among Christians who
are called to be salt and light.
Comments
& Questions Welcomed:
Thank you for
reading. We welcome your responses. Who knows, one of you may even be able to identify from the first photo in this article the auto service here in Wooster, Ohio that we referenced. To respond with insights, comments, and questions, just use
“Comments” below, or email to silviusj@gmail.com.
